Hawaii Symphony Orchestra Announces 2012 Masterworks Season

HONOLULU, HAWAII- Today, the Board of Directors of the Hawai'i Symphony Orchestra announced its 2012 Masterworks season beginning March 4, 2012. The group of civic and business leaders and the musicians of the Hawai'i Symphony Orchestra had previously announced an approved contract and have been developing plans for the 2012 season for many months.

Under the direction of Artistic Advisor, Maestra JoAnn Falletta, the programs beginning in March are sure to please and engage audiences who have been eagerly awaiting a new era of symphonic music in Hawai'i. There will also be a Hawai'i Symphony Orchestra Pops series to be announced shortly.

Guest stars of the inaugural Hawai'i Symphony season include many artists with ties to Hawai'i, including critically-acclaimed pianist Norman Krieger and conductor JoAnn Falletta. An impressive roster of gifted artists from around the world will travel to Honolulu for these exclusive concerts, including pianist-conductor Jeffrey Kahane, cellist Zuill Bailey, trumpeter Joe Burgstaller, classical guitarist Manuel Barrueco, and pianist Jon Kimura Parker.

The Board, led by Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Oswald Stender, includes Mona Abadir, CEO of Honu Group; Vicky Cayetano, CEO of United Laundry, Mitch D'Olier, president of Kaneohe Ranch Co.; Barron Guss, president of Altres Corporation; Paul Kosasa, president of ABC Stores; Gabe Lee, executive vice president of American Savings Bank; Mark Polivka, president of Monarch Insurance; and attorney Ken Robbins. JoAnn Falletta, Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Virginia Symphony, has crafted a Masterworks series that will highlight the return of guest conductor, Naoto Otomo and local favorites like pianist Lisa Nakamichi and violinist Michael Ludwig and feature such popular works as Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Brahms Piano Concerto and Rodrigo’s Guitar Concerto.

“It is our belief that having a symphony orchestra organization in Hawai'i is critical to the State’s artistic and economic vitality,” said Stender. “We are all thrilled to be making the dream of a new orchestra a reality. “

“Please accept our sincere invitation to become a subscriber to the new Hawai'i Symphony Orchestra season. We look forward to welcoming all orchestral music lovers, community leaders, musicians, as well as residents and visitors, and ask them to show their support by attending at least one Hawai'i Symphony Orchestra concert,” offered Vicky Cayetano. “If you do, we know you’ll be back.”

Under the continued guidance of Monder and Falletta, the Board and staff will continue to present artistic and business plans to create a healthy and vibrant new resident professional orchestra in Honolulu that will provide all residents, schools and families the artistic, educational, and professional resources they need to thrive and maintain Honolulu as a culturally rich city. All Masterworks concerts will take place at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall, in coordination with the staff at the Department of Enterprise Services, who has been extremely helpful in the planning of the upcoming season.

“The start of the new season is extremely good news for the people of Hawai'i, who will be able to enjoy their superb symphony starting next month. I am deeply grateful to the members of the Board, to Steven Monder and to the musicians for their dedication and firm conviction that the symphony orchestra is a critical artistic, educational and economic resource for our state,” said Falletta. “We had a limited amount of time to plan the season, which will include some new types of packages and series than what have been offered previously. This combination of new and old subscription opportunities give patrons the highest quality artists and conductors during this groundbreaking season.”

Tickets will be on sale starting on Wednesday, February 1 at 10:00am by calling the Hawai'i Symphony Box Office at (808) 593-9468, located at Hawaii Opera Plaza at 848 South Beretania, Suite 303. The Hawai'i Symphony Orchestra website will soon be live at www.hawaiisymphonyorchestra.org.

[...] several items on labor and financial issues. Out of the ashes of the Honolulu Symphony rises the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra, led by JoAnn Falletta. Their first, eight-program season starts next [...]